Reproductive biology of Syagrus coronata (Arecaceae): sex-biased insect visitation and the unusual case of scent emission by peduncular bracts.

Several monoecious species of palms have developed complex strategies to promote cross-pollination, including the production of large quantities of floral resources and the emission of scents that are attractive to pollinators. Syagrus coronata constitutes an interesting model with which to understand the evolution of plant reproductive strategies in a monoecious species adapted to seasonally dry forests. We monitored blooming phenology over 1 year, during which we also collected and identified floral visitors and putative pollinators. We identified potential floral visitor attractants by characterizing the scent composition of inflorescences as well as of peduncular bracts, during both male and female phases, and the potential for floral thermogenesis. Syagrus coronata produces floral resources throughout the year. Its inflorescences are predominantly visited by a diverse assortment of small-sized beetles, whose richness and abundance vary throughout the different phases of anthesis. We did not find evidence of floral thermogenesis. A total of 23 volatile compounds were identified in the scent emitted by the inflorescences, which did not differ between male and female phases; whereas the scent of the peduncular bracts was composed of only 4-methyl guaiacol, which was absent in inflorescences. The composition of floral scent chemistry indicates that this palm has evolved strategies to be predominantly pollinated by small-sized weevils. Our study provides rare evidence of a non-floral scent emitting structure involved in pollinator attraction, only the second such case specifically in palms. The peculiarities of the reproductive strategy of S. coronata might play an important role in the maintenance of pollination services and pollen dispersion.

Impact of Skull Defects on the Role of CTA for Brain Death Confirmation.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Intracranial pressure modifications caused by a skull defect, such as craniectomy or craniotomy, may change the hemodynamics and decrease the accuracy of CTA to confirm brain death. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a skull defect and the interpretation criteria of images on this diagnostic test. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series of consecutive patients with a clinical diagnosis of brain death underwent CTA (case group), while the control group comprised patients with acute ischemic stroke in the same period. CTA criteria adopted to confirm brain death were the absence of opacification of the M4 branches and internal cerebral veins. The evaluation also included the presence of "stasis filling." Cases were stratified as intact skull, craniotomy, and craniectomy. Three neuroradiologists evaluated all examinations independently. RESULTS: In the case group, according to the Frampas criteria, the sensitivity of CTA to confirm brain death was 95.5% in patients with intact skull, 87.5% with craniotomy, and 60% with craniectomy. False-negative diagnoses of brain death were 15.6%, related to stasis filling in 71.4% (P < .001). However, according to the "modified Frampas criteria," the sensitivity of CTA to confirm brain death was 100% in patients with intact skull, 93.8% with craniotomy, and 80% with craniectomy. False-negative diagnoses of brain death were found in 6.2% of patients, and there was no stasis filling. CTA showed 100% specificity in the control group. There were no disagreements among observers. CONCLUSIONS: CTA had a high diagnostic accuracy and reproducibility to confirm brain death in patients with an intact skull. The modified Frampas criteria increased the sensitivity of CTA, particularly in patients with a skull defect. A concurrent skull defect, especially craniectomy, can decrease the sensitivity of CTA to confirm brain death.

Attractiveness of Different Food Resources to Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) of a Dry Tropical Area.

Excrement scarcity is one of the main historical factors leading dung beetles to adapt to other food resources. In the Caatinga, a seasonally tropical dry forest, harsh environmental conditions seem to restrict the availability of food resources. In this scenario, the aim of our study was to experimentally investigate the attractiveness of different potential food resources to these insects in the Caatinga. Field samplings were performed, and we tested five resources in pitfall baited traps: excrement, carrion, fruits of two species of columnar cacti, and seeds of one species of Euphorbiaceae (Jatropha mollissima (Pohl)). In a controlled setting, we tested dietary preferences of Deltochilum verruciferum Felsche by offering one or two resources simultaneously. In the field experiments, 297 dung beetles (9 species) were recovered from the traps, and D. verruciferum was the most abundant species. Carrion and excrement were the most attractive resources. Controlled dietary preference tests with D. verruciferum evidenced that these beetles used all tested food resources, excrement and carrion most pronouncedly. Our findings support copro-necrophagy as the main feeding habit of D. verruciferum, but also suggest that alternative resources might be utilized if preferred resources are scarce.

Flowering mechanisms, pollination strategies and floral scent analyses of syntopically co-flowering Homalomena spp. (Araceae) on Borneo.

In this study, the flowering mechanisms and pollination strategies of seven species of the highly diverse genus Homalomena (Araceae) were investigated in native populations of West Sarawak, Borneo. The floral scent compositions were also recorded for six of these species. The selected taxa belong to three out of four complexes of the section Cyrtocladon (Hanneae, Giamensis and Borneensis). The species belonging to the Hanneae complex exhibited longer anthesis (53-62 h) than those of the Giamensis and Borneensis complexes (ca. 30 h). Species belonging to the Hanneae complex underwent two floral scent emission events in consecutive days, during the pistillate and staminate phases of anthesis. In species belonging to the Giamensis and Borneensis complexes, floral scent emission was only evident to the human nose during the pistillate phase. A total of 33 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were detected in floral scent analyses of species belonging to the Hanneae complex, whereas 26 VOCs were found in samples of those belonging to the Giamensis complex. The floral scent blends contained uncommon compounds in high concentration, which could ensure pollinator discrimination. Our observations indicate that scarab beetles (Parastasia gestroi and P. nigripennis; Scarabaeidae, Rutelinae) are the pollinators of the investigated species of Homalomena, with Chaloenus schawalleri (Chrysomelidae, Galeuricinae) acting as a secondary pollinator. The pollinators utilise the inflorescence for food, mating opportunities and safe mating arena as rewards. Flower-breeding flies (Colocasiomyia nigricauda and C. aff. heterodonta; Diptera, Drosophilidae) and terrestrial hydrophilid beetles (Cycreon sp.; Coleoptera, Hydrophilidae) were also frequently recovered from inflorescences belonging to all studied species (except H. velutipedunculata), but they probably do not act as efficient pollinators. Future studies should investigate the post-mating isolating barriers among syntopically co-flowering Homalomena sharing the same visiting insects.

Recognizing Autoimmune-Mediated Encephalitis in the Differential Diagnosis of Limbic Disorders.

Limbic encephalitis is far more common than previously thought. It is not always associated with cancer, and it is potentially treatable. Autoantibodies against various neuronal cell antigens may arise independently or in association with cancer and cause autoimmune damage to the limbic system. Neuroimaging plays a key role in the management of patients with suspected limbic encephalitis by supporting diagnosis and excluding differential possibilities. This article describes the main types of autoimmune limbic encephalitis and its mimic disorders, and emphasizes their major imaging features.

Sexual dysfunction in arterial hypertension women: The role of depression and anxiety.

INTRODUCTION: Although high blood pressure is known to be associated with sexual dysfunction, this phenomenon has been little studied in females and has received little intervention in clinical practice. OBJECTIVE: To identify the presence of sexual dysfunction, considering the different possible domains and to evaluate its relationship with the presence of symptoms of anxiety and depression in women with arterial hypertension. METHODOLOGY: One hundred fifty seven women (from 56.4 years) with a diagnosis of arterial hypertension were evaluated with media through the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). RESULTS: High rates of sexual dysfunction were detected in the women evaluated, and this dysfunction was in all domains as follows: desire (68.2%), excitement (68.2%), lubrication (41.1%), orgasm (55.4%), satisfaction (66.42%) and pain (56.1%). Elevated rates of symptoms of anxiety (43.3%) and depression (26.8%) were also found in our sample. Nevertheless, in the present study, such symptoms showed no relationship with sexual dysfunction levels for any of the domains assessed. CONCLUSION: Hypertensive patients exhibit an elevated presence of sexual dysfunction, as well as anxious and depressive symptoms. Although the literature on female sexuality indicates influences of these symptoms on sexual functions, this study did not identify such a relationship in the studied population. Sexuality is an important element in patient quality of life, and a broad understanding of female sexual function is fundamental for good follow-up in these patients.

Frequency and impact of disease symptoms experienced by patients with systemic sclerosis from five European countries.

OBJECTIVES: Knowledge about the nature and impact of symptoms faced by patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) is needed to identify targets for research and treatment. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the frequency and impact on everyday activities of SSc symptoms among patients from five European countries. METHODS: European patients with SSc were invited through announcements by patient associations to complete an online survey. The survey included items assessing the frequency of 40 SSc symptoms and the impact on daily activities, if present. Chi-square tests were utilised to assess the differences in frequency and impact of symptoms across countries. RESULTS: In total, 537 patients were included from France (n=111), the Netherlands (n=229), Spain (n=61), Switzerland (n=50), and the United Kingdom (n=86). Symptoms experienced by ≥ 70% of patients in all countries were fatigue, Raynaud's phenomenon, joint pain, and muscle pain. Twenty symptoms were experienced by ≥ 50% of patients in all countries. Thirty symptoms had an impact on daily activities in ≥ 50% of patients who reported that the symptom was present in all countries. There were significant differences among countries in the prevalence of 17 out of 40 symptoms. Furthermore, in 24 out of 40 symptoms significant differences in the proportion of patients reporting impact of a specific symptom on everyday activities were observed. CONCLUSIONS: European patients with SSc experience a broad range of symptoms that have an impact on everyday activities. International research initiatives should target common SSc symptoms cooperatively. Further research is needed to better understand the differences in SSc symptoms among countries.

Efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy in reducing psychiatric symptoms in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator: an integrative review

This article is a systematic review of the available literature on the benefits that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) offers patients with implanted cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and confirms its effectiveness. After receiving the device, some patients fear that it will malfunction, or they remain in a constant state of tension due to sudden electrical discharges and develop symptoms of anxiety and depression. A search with the key words “anxiety”, “depression”, “implantable cardioverter”, “cognitive behavioral therapy” and “psychotherapy” was carried out. The search was conducted in early January 2013. Sources for the search were ISI Web of Knowledge, PubMed, and PsycINFO. A total of 224 articles were retrieved: 155 from PubMed, 69 from ISI Web of Knowledge. Of these, 16 were written in a foreign language and 47 were duplicates, leaving 161 references for analysis of the abstracts. A total of 19 articles were eliminated after analysis of the abstracts, 13 were eliminated after full-text reading, and 11 articles were selected for the review. The collection of articles for literature review covered studies conducted over a period of 13 years (1998-2011), and, according to methodological design, there were 1 cross-sectional study, 1 prospective observational study, 2 clinical trials, 4 case-control studies, and 3 case studies. The criterion used for selection of the 11 articles was the effectiveness of the intervention of CBT to decrease anxiety and depression in patients with ICD, expressed as a ratio. The research indicated that CBT has been effective in the treatment of ICD patients with depressive and anxiety symptoms. Research also showed that young women represented a risk group, for which further study is needed. Because the number of references on this theme was small, further studies should be carried out.

Efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy in reducing psychiatric symptoms in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator: an integrative review.

This article is a systematic review of the available literature on the benefits that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) offers patients with implanted cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and confirms its effectiveness. After receiving the device, some patients fear that it will malfunction, or they remain in a constant state of tension due to sudden electrical discharges and develop symptoms of anxiety and depression. A search with the key words "anxiety", "depression", "implantable cardioverter", "cognitive behavioral therapy" and "psychotherapy" was carried out. The search was conducted in early January 2013. Sources for the search were ISI Web of Knowledge, PubMed, and PsycINFO. A total of 224 articles were retrieved: 155 from PubMed, 69 from ISI Web of Knowledge. Of these, 16 were written in a foreign language and 47 were duplicates, leaving 161 references for analysis of the abstracts. A total of 19 articles were eliminated after analysis of the abstracts, 13 were eliminated after full-text reading, and 11 articles were selected for the review. The collection of articles for literature review covered studies conducted over a period of 13 years (1998-2011), and, according to methodological design, there were 1 cross-sectional study, 1 prospective observational study, 2 clinical trials, 4 case-control studies, and 3 case studies. The criterion used for selection of the 11 articles was the effectiveness of the intervention of CBT to decrease anxiety and depression in patients with ICD, expressed as a ratio. The research indicated that CBT has been effective in the treatment of ICD patients with depressive and anxiety symptoms. Research also showed that young women represented a risk group, for which further study is needed. Because the number of references on this theme was small, further studies should be carried out.

An antigenic domain of the Leishmania amazonensis nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase (NTPDase 1) is associated with disease progression in susceptible infected mice.

An antigenic conserved B domain was previously identified within nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolases (NTPDases) of plants and parasites. Now, the r-potDomain B, a 6× His-tag polypeptide belonging to the conserved B domain from the potato apyrase, and synthetic peptides LbB1LJ and LbB2LJ derived from the B domain from Leishmania NTPDase 1 were used as molecular tools for studies of the Leishmania amazonensis NTPDase 1. Widespread subcellular location of the specific NTPDase 1 was detected by Western blots of promastigote fractions and ultrastructural immunocytochemical microscopy using immune sera raised against these biomolecules. In addition, the L. amazonensis-infected BALB/c mice were evaluated at 12 to 120 days after infection, which progresses showing typical nodular lesion. High antibody reactivity with either r-potDomain B, LbB1LJ, or LbB2LJ was found in L. amazonensis-infected BALB/c mice indicating the antigenicity of the B domain from NTPDase 1 isoform. The IgG1 antibody reactivity significantly increased at 90-120 days postinfection, 18- to 24-fold when compared to the 12th day, and remained elevated even at 120th after infection, coinciding with the most active stage of the disease. In contrast, significantly higher IgG2a antibody reactivity with each biomolecule was observed at 40th day, about two- to fourfold higher than those found at 12th or 20th day, and decreased along 120-day period. Apparently, the conserved B domain is capable to induce IgG2a production in early disease stages. All together, these results suggest that r-potDomain B or synthetic peptides could be molecular starting points in experimental protocols of immunotherapy and/or vaccination for leishmaniasis.

Human umbilical cord blood cells in infarcted rats.

Therapy with bone marrow-derived cells has been used in ischemic patients with reported success. The aim of this study was to determine the therapeutic efficacy of fresh and frozen human umbilical cord blood cells (hUCB) in Wistar rats submitted to permanent occlusion of the left coronary artery. Three hours after myocardial infarction, 2 x 10(7) hUCB cells or vehicle were administered by intramyocardial injection. The animals were divided into five groups: control (N = 10), sham operated (N = 10), infarcted that received vehicle (N = 9), infarcted treated with cryopreserved hUCB (N = 7), and infarcted treated with fresh hUCB (N = 5). Cardiac function was evaluated by electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiogram (ECHO) before cell therapy, and by ECG, ECHO, cardiopulmonary test, and left ventricular pressure measurements 3 weeks later. After 3 weeks, both groups treated with hUCB still had Q wave present in L1, âQRS >90 degrees and reduced shortening fraction (less than 50%). In addition, cardiac indexes of left ventricular contractility and relaxation were 5484 +/- 875 and -4032 +/- 643 mmHg (cryopreserved hUCB) and 4585 +/- 955 and -2862 +/- 590 mmHg (fresh hUCB), respectively. These values were not statistically different from those of saline-treated animals. Cardiopulmonary exercise test profile was typical of infarcted hearts; exercise time was about 14 min and maximal VO2 was 24.77 +/- 5.00 mL.kg-1.min-1. These data show that hUCB therapy did not improve the cardiac function of infarcted animals or prevent cardiac remodeling.

Human umbilical cord blood cells in infarcted rats

Therapy with bone marrow-derived cells has been used in ischemic patients with reported success. The aim of this study was to determine the therapeutic efficacy of fresh and frozen human umbilical cord blood cells (hUCB) in Wistar rats submitted to permanent occlusion of the left coronary artery. Three hours after myocardial infarction, 2 x 10(7) hUCB cells or vehicle were administered by intramyocardial injection. The animals were divided into five groups: control (N = 10), sham operated (N = 10), infarcted that received vehicle (N = 9), infarcted treated with cryopreserved hUCB (N = 7), and infarcted treated with fresh hUCB (N = 5). Cardiac function was evaluated by electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiogram (ECHO) before cell therapy, and by ECG, ECHO, cardiopulmonary test, and left ventricular pressure measurements 3 weeks later. After 3 weeks, both groups treated with hUCB still had Q wave present in L1, âQRS >90° and reduced shortening fraction (less than 50 percent). In addition, cardiac indexes of left ventricular contractility and relaxation were 5484 ± 875 and -4032 ± 643 mmHg (cryopreserved hUCB) and 4585 ± 955 and -2862 ± 590 mmHg (fresh hUCB), respectively. These values were not statistically different from those of saline-treated animals. Cardiopulmonary exercise test profile was typical of infarcted hearts; exercise time was about 14 min and maximal VO2 was 24.77 ± 5.00 mL·kg-1·min-1. These data show that hUCB therapy did not improve the cardiac function of infarcted animals or prevent cardiac remodeling.

A preliminary study revealing a new association in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis: manganism symptoms and T1 hyperintense changes in the basal ganglia.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patients undergoing parenteral nutrition and those with portosystemic encephalopathy secondary to chronic liver disease and acquired and congenital portosystemic venous shunts frequently present manganese deposition in the basal ganglia, detected by MR imaging as hyperintense areas on T1-weighted sequences. We also observed similar abnormalities in the basal ganglia of patients with chronic renal failure undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. Our aim was to evaluate the pallidal signal intensity on T1-weighted images in a series of patients undergoing hemodialysis, with further evaluation of serum manganese levels and neurologic correlation, comparing them with patients with chronic renal failure without dialytic treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed MR imaging examinations in 9 patients with chronic renal failure, 5 of whom were undergoing hemodialysis. An experienced neuroradiologist scrutinized the presence of symmetric hyperintensities in the basal ganglia on T1-weighted sequences. We also determined the serum manganese levels and performed the neurologic evaluations in all patients. RESULTS: All patients undergoing hemodialysis presented elevated serum manganese levels and symmetric hyperintensities within the globus pallidus. In this group, 4 patients presented with parkinsonian symptoms, myoclonus, and syndromes with vestibular and vestibular-auditory symptoms. The patients without dialytic treatment presented with neither bilaterally increased T1 MR imaging signal intensity within the globus pallidus nor symptoms of manganism. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary results demonstrated the occurrence of bilateral pallidal hyperintensity on T1-weighted images in all patients undergoing hemodialysis associated with high serum manganese levels, revealing a new association.

Motor neuron disease associated with non-fluent rapidly progressive aphasia: case report and review of the literature.

The superimposed clinical features of motor neuron disease (MND) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) comprise a rare neurological overlap syndrome that represents a diagnostic challenge to neurologists. Currently, FTLD-MND is considered a distinct entity and its clinicopathological basis has recently been reviewed. Our aim is to present a patient with MND and non-fluent rapidly progressive aphasia with clinical, imaging and histopathological correlation, as well as a brief review of the literature. We demonstrated the selective corticospinal tract (CST) and temporal lobe involvement using T1 spin-echo with an additional magnetization transfer contrast pulse on resonance (T1 SE/MTC) and FLAIR MR sequences in our patient, with further clinical and histopathological correlation. To the best of our knowledge, there is no description about the use of these particular MR sequences in the evaluation of FTLD-MND patients.

Caladium bicolor (Araceae) and Cyclocephala celata (Coleoptera, Dynastinae): a well-established pollination system in the Northern Atlantic rainforest of Pernambuco, Brazil.

Flowering, pollination ecology, and floral thermogenesis of Caladium bicolor were studied in the Atlantic Rainforest of Pernambuco, NE Brazil. Inflorescences of this species are adapted to the characteristic pollination syndrome performed by Cyclocephalini beetles. They bear nutritious rewards inside well-developed floral chambers and exhibit a thermogenic cycle which is synchronized to the activity period of visiting beetles. Heating intervals of the spadix were observed during consecutive evenings corresponding to the beginning of the female and male phases of anthesis. Highest temperatures were recorded during the longer-lasting female phase. An intense sweet odour was volatized on both evenings. Beetles of a single species, Cyclocephala celata, were attracted to odoriferous inflorescences of C. bicolor and are reported for the first time as Araceae visitors. All the inflorescences visited by C. celata developed into infructescences, whereas unvisited inflorescences showed no fruit development. Findings of previous studies in the Amazon basin of Surinam indicated that Cyclocephala rustica is a likely pollinator of C. bicolor. This leads to the assumption that locally abundant Cyclocephalini species are involved in the pollination of this species.

Trigeminal involvement in multiple sclerosis: magnetic resonance imaging findings with clinical correlation in a series of patients.

Trigeminal involvement detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients is usually associated with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) or painless paraesthesia in the trigeminal distribution. Our aim is to review the incidence of trigeminal involvement on MRI in a series of patients with MS at our institution, with further clinical correlation. We reviewed MRI scans of 275 MS patients for the presence of gadolinium enhancement on postcontrast T1-weighted images, anatomical and signal abnormalities on different sequences at the pontine trigeminal root entry zone (REZ) and in the cisternal portion of the nerves. We observed enhancement in the cisternal portion of the nerves and signal abnormalities (with or without enhancement) at the pontine trigeminal REZ in 8 (2.9%) patients, and enhancement was bilateral in 6 (75%) of those. Despite the inflammatory activity, none of them had TN and 3 (37.5%) had only painless paraesthesias in the correspondent V3 distribution. We also found a marked trigeminal hypertrophy in 2 (25%) patients, both with a longer period of disease. Our results confirm a high and clinically silent incidence of trigeminal involvement in MS patients, and suggest a simultaneous role of the central and peripheral type of myelin in trigeminal demyelination.

Magnetic resonance findings in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using a spin echo magnetization transfer sequence. Preliminary report.

We present the magnetic resonance (MR) findings of five patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) using a spin-echo sequence with an additional magnetization transfer (MT) pulse on T1-weighted images (T1 SE/MT). These findings were absent in the control group and consisted of hyperintensity of the corticospinal tract. Moreover we discuss the principles and the use of this fast but simple MR technique in the diagnosis of ALS.